Article version: Enterprise Server 2.15

This version of GitHub Enterprise will be discontinued on This version of GitHub Enterprise was discontinued on 2019-10-16. No patch releases will be made, even for critical security issues. For better performance, improved security, and new features, upgrade to the latest version of GitHub Enterprise. For help with the upgrade, contact GitHub Enterprise support.

Configuring the GitHub Enterprise Server appliance

Once GitHub Enterprise Server is up and running, you can configure the appliance to suit your organization's needs.

Accessing the Management Console

Use the Management Console to set up and configure your GitHub Enterprise Server instance, schedule maintenance windows, troubleshoot issues, and manage your license.

Accessing the administrative shell (SSH)

SSH access allows you to run the GitHub Enterprise Server command line utilities and is useful for troubleshooting, running backups, and configuring replication.

Enabling and scheduling maintenance mode

Some standard maintenance procedures, such as upgrading your GitHub Enterprise Server instance or restoring backups, require the instance to be taken offline for normal use.

Configuring backups on your appliance

As part of a disaster recovery plan, you can protect production data on your GitHub Enterprise Server instance by configuring automated backups.

Site admin dashboard

The site admin dashboard provides a number of tools to help you manage your GitHub Enterprise Server instance.

Enabling private mode

In private mode, GitHub Enterprise Server requires every user to sign in to access the installation.

Configuring the default visibility of new repositories on your appliance

You can set the default visibility for all new repositories created via the web interface on your GitHub Enterprise Server appliance to be private or public.

Disabling the merge conflict editor for pull requests between repositories

You can require people to resolve merge conflicts locally by disabling the merge conflict editor on GitHub Enterprise Server for pull requests where the base branch and the head branch are in different repositories.

Disabling Git SSH access on GitHub Enterprise Server

You can prevent people from using Git over SSH for certain or all repositories on your GitHub Enterprise Server instance.

Configuring GitHub Pages on your appliance

You can enable or disable GitHub Pages on your instance. You can also choose to make GitHub Pages sites publicly accessible.

Configuring rate limits

You can set rate limits for GitHub Enterprise Server using the Management Console.

Setting Git push limits

To keep the user file system from growing too large, users will receive a warning message if they add new files or update existing files larger than 50 MB. Additionally, end users will be blocked by default from pushing files or updating existing files larger than 100 MB.

Troubleshooting SSL errors

If you run into SSL issues with your appliance, you can take actions to resolve them.

Configuring time synchronization

GitHub Enterprise Server automatically synchronizes its clock by connecting to NTP servers. You can set the NTP servers that are used to synchronize the clock, or you can use the default NTP servers.

Command-line utilities

GitHub Enterprise Server includes a variety of utilities to help resolve particular problems or perform specific tasks.

About the GitHub Enterprise Server API

GitHub Enterprise Server supports the same powerful API available on GitHub.com as well as its own set of API endpoints.

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